Colts optimistic that Khaled Holmes will be back for start of season

Posted by Josh Alper on August 10, 2014, 11:02 AM EST

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The Colts saw starting center Khaled Holmes leave Thursday night’s preseason game against the Jets with an ankle injury before the end of their first possession, but initial fears of a lengthy absence have subsided.

Holmes was at the team’s practice Saturday wearing a boot on his left leg and coach Chuck Pagano said after the session that the team expected him to miss a few weeks before returning to his role in the middle of the team’s offensive line in time for the start of the regular season.

“We’re optimistic that he’ll get back in time to get in the lineup and have at least a week or so of practice, two or three, whatever it is,” Pagano said, via the team’s website. “I don’t know what it will end up being, but we’re optimistic that he’ll be back by the opener.”

Undrafted rookie Jonotthan Harrison replaced Holmes against the Jets and Pagano indicated he would get most of the work while Holmes is out of the lineup. They are also taking a look at rookie guard Jack Mewhort at center, a position he played in high school, to prepare themselves in the event that Holmes needs more time to recover.

We had more players on IR than any team in the league and still went 11-5. We always have too many injuries but yet only one time did it kill our team; but we got Luck outta that season so it was no problem.